How to Write a Resume That Gets Read

Recruiters often spend less than a minute on a first look at a resume. Your job is to make the best parts easy to find. Here is a simple process you can follow.

1. Start with the job advert

Read the advert and mark the skills and words it repeats. Your resume should use the same words, but only where they are true for you. This helps both the person reading it and the software that filters resumes.

2. Write a short summary

Two or three lines at the top: who you are, what you do best, and what you want next. Skip empty phrases like “hard-working team player” and say something specific instead.

3. Put results in your experience

For each job, list what you achieved, not only what you were responsible for. “Handled customer emails” is weaker than “Answered 40 customer emails a day and cut reply time from 2 days to 4 hours.” Use numbers whenever you honestly can.

4. Keep the layout calm

• One or two pages. One page is better for early career.
• One simple font, with a clear size difference for headings.
• Dates on the right, job titles in bold.
• No photos, charts or progress bars unless the job asks for them.

5. Check, then check again

Read it out loud. Ask a friend to read it. Save it as a PDF unless the advert asks for Word, so the layout never breaks.

If you want a head start, a good template takes care of the layout so you can focus on the words. Browse our resume templates or grab a free one.